Radical Fruit

We do talk about good works, building and battling, because God tells us that those who love Him show it through obedience and zeal. He redeemed us to make Himself a people who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). He even promises rewards on top of results for those who seek fruitfulness by faith (Hebrews 11:6).

And may we always remember the good news that Jesus died and rose again.

It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:24–25 ESV)

This gospel is radical.

Maybe you’ve heard before that radical comes from the Latin word radix which means “root.” We think a radical is someone out on the edge, someone at the extreme, but what it really means is someone who extremely believes an idea. It’s why we also call them fundamentalists; they are committed to the root issues. Radical people are rooted people.

When it comes to the confession of our lives as Christians, we must be rooted in the gospel. Out of those roots comes a mind to work.

“Accordingly radical determination must be insisted upon. Half-measures cannot guarantee the desired result. Superficiality will not brace us for the conflict.” —Abraham Kuyper